Mateusz Żukowski: Who is the former Rangers right-back now top scoring in Bundesliga 2?
From sitting on the bench in Scotland to banging in the goals in Germany, Magdeburg man Mateusz Żukowski has had a curious journey from deputy right-back to star striker.
Stats correct as of 11 March 2026
Mateusz Żukowski
Age: 24 (born 23 November 2001)
Club: Magdeburg
Position: Striker/ right-back
Country: Poland (24 youth caps, one goal)
Key stats and facts
Magdeburg may be propping up the Bundesliga 2 table this season, but that hasn’t stopped Żukowski from racing towards the top end of the scorer’s chart with 11 goals from just 13 games. Throw in his two assists and he has enjoyed a direct goal contribution every 88 minutes of play.
It is an incredible recent rise.
Żukowski was born in Lębork in northern Poland on 23 November 2001, meaning he shares a birthdate with Erling Haaland’s dad, Alfie, and a hometown with the “Father of Television,” Paul Gottlieb Nipkow.
Watch: Żukowski grabs his first career hat-trick, against Greuther Fürth
But the idea that he might one day post Haaland junior-esque numbers, or indeed even make it to prime time at all, might previously have seemed fanciful.
Żukowski was a promising enough youngster, joining Lechia Gdańsk’s youth academy at 13 and going on to make 50 appearances with their senior team, which included a Polish Cup win in 2019, but then followed a move to Rangers that might have derailed lesser players.
Żukowski was signed to be a long-term successor to the free-scoring Rangers captain James Tavernier, but after just a single appearance in six months – against Annan in the Scottish Cup – he was allowed to leave, first on loan for Lech Poznań, and then permanently on a free to Śląsk Wrocław.
The Militarians, as they are known, were ravaged by injury last season on their way to Ekstraklasa relegation, but Żukowski, having played on both flanks in defence and midfield on his way to 24 youth international caps, plugged more than one gap.
A handful of those at centre-forward, which saw him collect three goals and six assists, were enough for Magdeburg to take a gamble – one which is paying off handsomely with Żukowski now a full-time striker.
Plays a bit like: Edin Džeko
For a player who has played all over the pitch on his circuitous route towards the top, Żukowski looks like a man born to play at No.9. He boasts a broad-shouldered 6’2’ frame, and also has the pace to exploit flat-footed opposition defenders. Throw in his ability to finish off both feet and his style is not too dissimilar from Edin Džeko, who now struts his stuff for Magdeburg’s Bundesliga 2 rivals Schalke.
Watch: Żukowski scores twice in defeat to Schalke
Did you know?
Żukowski’s surname derives from zuch, Polish for a brave, dashing fellow, (or żuk, which means beetle) and is a patronymic name – but it is the women in the forward’s life who have helped him the most.
“With the money I earn, I try to help my mother and sister out,” he told Radio Gdansk. “I owe my mother a large debt and I always told her if I made it as a professional footballer, I would help her as she helped me. She always did everything to make sure I could play football.
“I have a tattoo of my mother’s date of birth. She’s my inspiration.”
Żukowski’s wife is also a big influence. The player needed surgery on a foot injury when he first joined Magdeburg, and it wasn’t until last November that he made his debut.
"I had an injury when I first arrived here, which set me back,” he explained. "But since I’ve come into the team I have not stopped scoring.
"The injury helped me clear my head. I showed my skills in training, but not in matches. I worked hard on my mental health . A few years ago, I worked with a psychologist, but now my wife helps me a lot instead.”
What they’re saying
“He used to play as a winger for Lechia Gdańsk and the Polish age-group teams. When he moved up to the first team at Lechia Gdańsk, the coach converted him into a right back, a full-back. He is a player who is able to get forward, to overlap. He is strong going forward.
“I do like Mateusz. In fact, he reminds me a little bit of myself when I was a player, only he is a little bit taller. I would say he is a player with great potential.” – former Rangers star and fellow Pole Dariusz Adamczuk on Żukowski’s early positional journey.
"People have said I have a similar style to Edin Džeko so it was nice to play against him last weekend when we were up against his team Schalke. And I scored two goals and he only scored once!
“Of course, Edin Džeko is a great striker, but my name is Mateusz Żukowski. I want my name to be another legendary one, so that people forget that there was someone like Dzeko, because there is now someone like Mateusz Żukowski. – Żukowski on his lofty striker comparisons
“I am glad that dreams are slowly coming true. I have always wanted to go abroad and play in European competitions. You have to keep your dreams and goals as high as possible.
“My dream is to one day play for Poland. All I can do is keep scoring goals and hope they notice me.” – Żukowski on whether he can inherit Robert Lewandowski’s role for Poland
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